Meet Freda: The Earring Everyone's Obsessed With
If you’ve been around here for a while, you already know about Freda — my bestselling handmade flower earrings, crafted from coloured polymer clay and finished with hypoallergenic stainless steel. What you might not know is that Freda is also the most labour-intensive design I make. Yup, even more than the canework pieces.
Why? Because every single one of these earrings is shaped by hand, then sanded in multiple grades — by hand. No shortcuts. No automation. Just me, a growing collection of sanding pads, and some seriously high standards.
The Story Behind the Shape
The very first version of these flower earrings came to life back in 2020 — right at the start of my polymer clay jewellery journey. At the time, they were called Poppy Drops. Cute, right?
But as my skills (and tools!) evolved, so did the shape. It became more refined, more sculptural… more me. And eventually, it needed a name to match. So I ran a little naming competition on Instagram and Facebook a couple years back — and that’s how Freda was born.
The name comes from a follower’s sister, someone who’d been cheering on MarleseMade for years. It felt right. A little nod to the connection between maker and community.
Things People Say About Freda
"Honestly? She should come with a warning label, you can never own just one pair."
One customer told me she now owns six pairs… and that I should’ve offered a loyalty card.
Another asked me to ship her earrings in an unmarked box so her partner wouldn’t know she’d bought another pair of Fredas. (Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.)
What’s New?
So many colours! Because this design is part of my permanent collection, I regularly add new seasonal shades and restock the most-loved favourites. From soft neutrals to bold brights, there’s a Freda flower earring for every mood and every outfit.
And yes — each one is still made from scratch, by hand, right here in my little Irish studio in the Boyne Valley. No paint, no molds — just clay, which I custom mix into all these gorgeous colours, stainless steel hooks, and a lot of love (and sanding).
Want First Dibs?
If you don’t want to miss the next colour drop (because they do sell out), be sure to join the newsletter (below). It’s the best way to get early access to new handmade Irish jewellery releases — and maybe a few cheeky subscriber-only perks too.
Freda might look delicate, but she’s bold, joyful, and kind of addictive.
One of a kind - Just like the women who wear her!